Speaker Among bitter at illegal and fraudulent labour exporters

By Shivan Tuhairirwe and Priscah Atuhaire,

NATIONAL

Annet Anitah Among, the speaker of the 11th parliament of Uganda has cautioned against fraudulent labour recruitment and export companies illegally operating in Uganda.

‘’I urge you to help government weed out these imposters and fraudesters who take our girls in abroad and leave them to die,’’ She said.

Among was speaking at a meeting with leaders of the Uganda Association of External Recruitment Agencies (UAERA) held at Parliament on Thursday January 12.

She called on labour exporters to protect and promote the welfare of migrant workers as well as optimization of the benefits of labor migration on development.

‘’You need to train and sensitize these people not only on the roles they are going to play, but also the culture of the people they are going to work for,’’ She urged.

On the other hand, the speaker revealed parliament’s plans to ensure safety of workers abroad.

‘’Parliament through the Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development will continue to come up with measures that will address existing challenges facing the country’s labour externalization industry.’’

Towards the end of last year, the MGLSD reported that more than 17,000 Ugandans are working as migrant workers in the Middle – East.

Many of these are young men and women who have suffered domestic violence, human torture while others have died. Government has hitherto blamed this on illegal labour recruitment and exporting companies extorting money from Ugandans promising them jobs but nothing has been done to stop this human trafficking practice.